Ad Watch: "Don't Know Much"

by Josh Orton, Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 05:48:11 AM EDT

Piggy-backing on McCain's...uh...asset confusion last week, the Obama campaign just released a new ad called "Don't Know Much," a light-hearted spot tying McCain's lack of economic leadership to Bush:

It uses the infectious riff from Sam Cooke's classic "Wonderful World." It's cute, but maybe too cute? McCain's ignorance of economics is dangerous - why give the impression that the problem is benign? And why not use McCain's quote about the economy's supposed "strength?" Still, glad this populist attack on McCain continues.

The campaign says the ad will run on national cable and in battleground states around the country starting today. Let's hope they don't get any ideas for "Mr. Pitiful."

Tags: Barack Obama, Election 08, John McCain (all tags)

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26 Comments

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Re: Ad Watch: "Don't Know Much"

Short and sweet with a catchy tune.  What's not to like?

by temptxan 2008-08-25 06:04AM | 0 recs
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What's not to like?

Agreed. Best Obama ad so far. Awesome.

by conspiracy 2008-08-25 06:16AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ad Watch: "Don't Know Much"
Whats not to like? It's far too cutesy for it's own good ,and  frames the problem in a far too benign  of a light.  If  I was a Republican ,this ad wouldn't worry me in the least. it has about as much bite as a toothless dog,and I think it's awul.  
Seeing as the economoy is THE single biggest issue ,and will be the biggest issue in November, they could have and should have come up with  a powerhouse  punch of an ad,not a schoolyard slap of one.
 Broadly speaking,the Democratic  Party lacks balls.
by Lodgemannered 2008-08-25 12:35PM | 0 recs
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Re: Ad Watch: "Don't Know Much"

We need more Bush/McCain photos out there.  

by Whash 2008-08-25 06:14AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ad Watch: "Don't Know Much"

Too cute?  Don't think so.  It gets the attack out without appearing mean.  Hits McCain without really tarnishing Obama's image.  That's a good thing.  I don't know if it will be effective or not, but I've seen worse.

by thezzyzx 2008-08-25 06:14AM | 0 recs
My-meetup1
"Don't Know Much"

Attack, attack ATTACK!   I don't care too much what the content is, although I do like this one. Keep McInsane on the defensive. CHARGE!

by eddieb 2008-08-25 06:18AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ad Watch: "Don't Know Much"

I agree this is a great ad!!!! People may even start singing the lyrics to themselves.

Is that James Taylor singing??? It sounds like it.

by Lolis 2008-08-25 06:19AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ad Watch: "Don't Know Much"

Probably.  James Taylor joined Art Garfunkel and Paul Simon on a 1977 cover of "Wonderful World."  The song is on one of Garfunkel's albums and was a Top 20 single in early 1978.

KT

by KTinOhio 2008-08-25 09:19AM | 0 recs
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eh

i find this ad troubling. It's not serious in tone and like Josh implies, the music trivializes the message.

the flow of it is something better done by an undergraduate media student, or someone just recently learning how to work in final cut or after effects. Schlock.

Hopefully this ad will not be run much if at all to the masses.

And one final critique. I wish they would imitate Al Franken's "i'm blah blah blah and I approve this message" technique. It's easier on the eyes, ears and doesn't come across as some vapid segment of the ad. Humanize that damn claim.

by alex100 2008-08-25 06:27AM | 0 recs
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Re: eh

I  share your views about this ad,1000%.

by Lodgemannered 2008-08-25 12:37PM | 0 recs
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Re: Ad Watch: "Don't Know Much"

It's about time they put the picture of McCain hugging Bush in an ad.

by PSUdan 2008-08-25 06:30AM | 0 recs
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The video has been in many already

But I think the still is more effective.

by conspiracy 2008-08-25 07:04AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ad Watch: "Don't Know Much"
I want to see footage,if it exists, of his hot head, or  people  who have witnessed his hot head first hand , speaking about it.
  This guy has a seige mentality and nobody  is really picking up on that and running with it  for fear of being seen as unpatriotic.
 I want to see an ad that shows him to be the hot head  that he genuinely is .  I don't want that hot head taking a 3 am  phone call..no way ..no how.
by Lodgemannered 2008-08-25 12:46PM | 0 recs
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Re: Ad Watch: "Don't Know Much"

It's ok, I wonder if it's too breezy to be effective.

by rfahey22 2008-08-25 06:33AM | 0 recs
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We shall see

Guess he can't win whatever because people have been complaining the music in previous ads was too depressing.

by conspiracy 2008-08-25 07:06AM | 0 recs
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Re: We shall see

Well, it is true that no ad will please everyone.

by rfahey22 2008-08-25 07:08AM | 0 recs
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I think mocking

always trumps attacking.

The "windsurfer" ad was devastating, note how light it's tone was.

by Neef 2008-08-25 06:45AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ad Watch: "Don't Know Much"

I'd like to see one with six cuts

1. Wesley Clarke, talking about the challenges we face

  1. Anthony Zinni, talking about the Middle East
  2. John McCain, "Bomb, bomb, bomb Iran..."
  3. Joe Biden, "We don't need a good soldier, we need a wise leader."
  4. Barack Obama, "Thanks, Joe, I approve this message."
  5. McCain Hugging Bush; overlay with title, "We can't afford four more years."

Come on now. Help me sharpen this up.

by jlmccreery 2008-08-25 06:51AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ad Watch: "Don't Know Much"

This is all about demographics.  The music will appeal, primarily, to voters over the age of 50 (for whom this was a contemporary song).  This is the core demographic that Obama needs to bring home.  To paraphrase (the otherwise awful) Ted Nugent, "If it's too soft, you're too young."

by Ephus 2008-08-25 06:52AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ad Watch: "Don't Know Much"

Interesting - I hadn't thought of that.  Maybe they should produce a "Barbara Anne" riff on McCain's Iran stance, then.

by rfahey22 2008-08-25 06:58AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ad Watch: "Don't Know Much"

I hope that one's in progress as we speak.  Actually, I can't help but remember "Bomb Iran" on the radio around the time the U.S. embassy in Tehran was taken over.

by KTinOhio 2008-08-25 09:02AM | 0 recs
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The ad's fine

There are serious ads running, then this one, with the extended hug ... it's good stuff, and it makes fun of the old man, something we should do more of.  You want serious?  Put up some typical Democratic charts and graphs and percentages ... and have people zone out within two seconds.

by Tangie3 2008-08-25 07:25AM | 0 recs
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Like it.

Attacky without being Grim.

The McCain attack ads all have that somber "I gotta tell you, times are going to be tough and ugly" tone to them.

by chrisblask 2008-08-25 07:59AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ad Watch: "Don't Know Much"

Man... everyone complains that all the ads are too serious, and then one comes out that's unique and funny, while at the same time completely skewering, and everyone complains that it's "too serious"?

Oh, and... ahem...

http://www.openleft.com/showComment.do?c ommentId=91067

by leshrac55 2008-08-25 08:52AM | 0 recs
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Where's my royalty check?

I posted this idea on this very board three weeks ago...

http://www.mydd.com/comments/2008/8/4/01 832/50617/9#9

by KTinOhio 2008-08-25 08:55AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ad Watch: "Don't Know Much"

I like this ad.  The goal is to be memorable.

by Steve M 2008-08-25 12:42PM | 0 recs

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